Information processing apparatus, information delivery system, information processing method, and recording medium

ABSTRACT

A multimedia file has a format in which actual data is embedded in a file structure. The multimedia information is assembled in blocks, each composed of a header area and a data area, and has a hierarchical structure in which a block is embedded in another block. Header area information may include a file name identification information (block name), a number of child blocks information and data length identification information. This arrangement facilitates the creation and editing of a multimedia file, permitting high-speed data searching.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to an information delivery systemfor delivering the content of multimedia information, an informationprocessing apparatus for use in the information delivery system, aninformation processing method, and a recording medium recording themultimedia information.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] In one of known systems, a server transmits audio data as amusical composition to a user, delivering the musical composition to arecording medium of the user or an audio player having a recordingmedium therewithin. Such a system is a music delivery system.

[0005] Besides the audio data as the musical composition, informationtransmitted and received in the music delivery system can include imagedata such as of a jacket of the music record or other media, and textdata such as lyrics. Types of data to be transmitted and received arenot only audio data but also a content including the image data and thetext data.

[0006] To create these pieces of multimedia information, a descriptionlanguage called HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) is widely used.

[0007] In the HTML, information is presented in a file which createdusing an identifier called a tag delimited by symbols <, > as shown inFIG. 15. The content and meaning of the tag is fixed in the HTML.Referring to FIG. 15, for example, a link is made to an image data filehaving a file name 20silly.gif as an external reference file to presentthe image data in a desired location by describing a tag <IMG SRC=“20silly.gif” width=100 HEIGHT”=100>.

[0008] An audio (voice) data file, although not shown in FIG. 15, isprepared as an external reference file, and a predetermined tag is usedin the description. A link is made to the audio data file to reproduceit.

[0009] A music delivery system using the multimedia information is nowconsidered.

[0010] The top priority is to transmit the audio data as musicalcomposition data as fast and precise as possible. The music deliverysystem works even if other types of information in association with theaudio data are transmitted later.

[0011] When the HTML is employed for a multimedia information file formusic delivery, an HTML description file and musical composition data asan external reference file of the HTML description file are transmitted.The music delivery is thus based on the assumption that not only themusical composition data but also the HTML description file istransmitted.

[0012] When a single multimedia information file of the HTML formatlinked to a plurality of pieces of musical composition data istransmitted, each of these pieces of musical composition data needs tobe individually linked to the HTML description file.

[0013] The music delivery service in practice requires that a number ofpieces of musical composition data be transmitted in association with asingle multimedia information file. The number of pieces of musicalcomposition data linked to a single HTML description file becomes quitelarge.

[0014] On the delivery side of the musical composition data, thecreation of multimedia information becomes difficult and troublesomeaccordingly. The possibility of the generation of software bugsincreases, thereby lowering work efficiency on the delivery side.

[0015] The receiver side of the musical composition data is required toread the HTML description file from the header thereof and successivelyinterpret the tags to search for a target musical composition data. Sucha process is time-consuming and burdensome on the receiver side. Besidesthe HTML, XML (Extensible Markup Language) is known as a descriptionlanguage, which is used in cooperation with the HTML as a Web page. Thesame is true of the XML.

[0016] It is not practically appropriate that a service for delivering alarge amount data such as many pieces of musical composition data iscarried out using the multimedia information file composed of thedescription file and the external reference file.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to improvethe performance of data delivery service so that the burden on a datadelivery side and a data receiver side involved in the processing ofmultimedia information is lightened in the data delivery service.

[0018] The present invention in one aspect relates to an apparatus forprocessing information, and includes an information acquisition unit foracquiring multimedia information having a structure of block dataincluding a header area and a data area holding data, a data extractorfor extracting desired data from the multimedia information acquired bythe information acquisition means, through searching, based on thecontent described in the header area of the multimedia information, anda reproducing unit for reproducing the data extracted by the dataextractor.

[0019] The present invention in another aspect relates to a system fordelivering information, and includes a delivery apparatus and aninformation receiver apparatus. The information delivery apparatusincludes a storage unit for storing at least one piece of multimediainformation having a structure of block data including a header area anda data area holding data, and a transmitter for transmitting multimediainformation selected from at least one piece of multimedia informationstored in the storage means. The information receiver apparatus includesa receiver for receiving the multimedia information transmitted by theinformation delivery apparatus, a data extractor for extracting, throughsearching, desired data from the multimedia information received by thereceiver means, based on the content described in the header area of themultimedia information, and a reproducing means for reproducing the dataextracted by the data extractor.

[0020] The present invention in yet another aspect relates to a methodfor processing multimedia information, and includes the steps ofacquiring, from outside, multimedia information having a structure ofblock data including a header area and a data area holding data,extracting, through searching, desired data from the multimediainformation acquired through the acquiring step, based on the contentdescribed in the header area of the multimedia information, andreproducing the data extracted by the data extracting step.

[0021] The present invention in still another aspect relates to arecording medium and records multimedia information, having a structureof block data, including a header area and a data area holding data.

[0022] In the above arrangement, the multimedia information handled bythe present invention includes data associated with a header. A fileitself includes data therewithin. In other words, the arrangement of thepresent invention is different from a structure which includes adescription file of a text and an external reference file. In accordancewith the present invention, target data is searched for in themultimedia information, based on the content of header information ofthe multimedia information, and the target information is thenreproduced. The process of the multimedia information for datareproduction is more efficient and lighter in duty than searching forlinked data referencing the description file.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the construction of a deliverysystem of one embodiment of the present invention;

[0024]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the construction of a server anda terminal constituting the delivery system;

[0025]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the construction of a recordingand reproducing apparatus for reproducing musical composition datadownloaded through the delivery system;

[0026]FIGS. 4A and 4B show a sector format of a disk of the embodimentof the present invention;

[0027]FIG. 5 shows an address format of the disk of the embodiment ofthe present invention;

[0028]FIGS. 6A and 6B shows an address example of the disk of theembodiment of the present invention;

[0029]FIG. 7 shows an area structure of the disk of the embodiment ofthe present invention;

[0030]FIG. 8 shows the construction of block data;

[0031]FIG. 9 shows the hierarchical structure of the block data;

[0032]FIG. 10 shows the hierarchy of the blocks shown in FIG. 9;

[0033]FIG. 11 shows a dump image of a multimedia file;

[0034]FIG. 12 shows the structure of a multimedia file transmitted andreceived in the delivery system of the embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0035]FIG. 13 shows the structure of a multimedia file transmitted andreceived in the delivery system of the embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0036]FIG. 14 is a flow diagram showing a multimedia informationreproduction process in a receiver terminal; and

[0037]FIG. 15 is a conceptual view showing the structure of an HTMLfile.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0038] The embodiments of the present invention are now discussed.

[0039] 1 Information Delivery System

[0040] 1.1 General Construction

[0041] The information delivery system of one embodiment of the presentinvention is a system for delivering audio data as a musicalcomposition.

[0042]FIG. 1 generally shows the information delivery system of thisembodiment.

[0043] As shown, a server 100 stores a number of multimedia files asdata to be delivered. As will be discussed in detail later, themultimedia file holds audio data (musical composition data) of at leastone musical composition, image data such as of a jacket of a medium ofmusic data, and text data such as lyrics. Such a multimedia file may besupplied by a record company.

[0044] The server 100 is connected to numerous receiver terminals 300through a communication network 200. The server 100 transmits themultimedia file through the communication network 200.

[0045] The receiver terminals 300 may be installed at station stalls,convenience stores, public telephone booths, homes, etc. The receiverterminal 300 receives the multimedia file transmitted from the server100, and stores a relative large number of multimedia files.

[0046] A predetermined recording medium is loaded into a medium port 307a of the body of the receiver terminal 300. The media port 307 areceives an MD (Mini Disk), which records and plays back compressedaudio data in a predetermined scheme. The receiver terminal 300 includesan operation panel 305 having a variety of controls for downloading themusical composition data, and a display 306 which presents variousdisplays concerning the downloading.

[0047] The user of the recording and reproducing device 1 loads a disk90, which may be the user's own MD, into the media port 307 a,designates desired musical composition data to be downloaded, byoperating the operation panel 305, and then, for example, signs acontract for buying the musical composition data.

[0048] The receiver terminal 300 searches for and extracts thedesignated musical composition data from among a plurality of multimediafiles stored therewithin, and writes the extracted musical compositiondata onto the disk 90 loaded in the media port 307 a. In this way, themusical composition data bought by the user is downloaded into the disk90 owned by the user.

[0049] The recording and reproducing device 1, shown in FIG. 1 is ownedby the user, and records and reproduces the audio data on the MD. Forexample, the user loads the disk 90 having the downloaded musicalcomposition data recorded thereon into the recording and reproducingdevice 1, and reproduces a track as the musical composition data,thereby hearing the bought music.

[0050] Some proposed MD formats allow not only the audio data but alsoAUX data, such as still picture data and text data, attached to theaudio data to be recorded and reproduced. In this embodiment of thepresent invention, as well, the multimedia file also holds the AUX data,and the receiver terminal 300 records the AUX data together with theaudio data on the loaded disk 90.

[0051] A device, owned by the user and working with the MD, may be areproducing only device.

[0052] As long as the receiver terminal 300 has a two-way communicationcapability with the server 100 via the communication network 200, thereceiver terminal 300 can request the server 100 to send a desiredmultimedia file thereto.

[0053] In the information delivery system of this embodiment, thereceiver terminal 300 stores information sent from the server 100, andcopies information, from among several pieces of information storedtherewithin, requested by the user onto a recording medium with whichthe recording and reproducing device 1 is compatible.

[0054] The communication network 200 includes, but is not limited to,communications satellites, an ISDN (Integrated Services DigitalNetwork), a CATV (Cable Television or Community Antenna Television), ananalog telephone line, and a variety of wireless communications.

[0055] 1.2 Construction of the Server and Receiver Terminal

[0056]FIG. 2 shows the construction of the server 100 and the receiverterminal 300.

[0057] The server 100 shown here includes a controller 101, a storageunit 102, a searcher 103, and a interface 104, and the circuits of theseunits exchange information via a bus line.

[0058] As shown, the controller 101 is formed of a computer, andperforms control and a variety of processes on the components in theserver 100.

[0059] The interface 104 performs communication with the receiverterminal 300 via the communication network 200. The transmissionprotocol during transmission may be a unique one or the TCP/IP(Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) widely used in theInternet. Data may be packetized through one of these transmissionprotocol.

[0060] The searcher 103 under the control of the controller 101 searchesfor desired data in data stored in the storage unit 102. When the server100 needs to send a designated multimedia file to the receiver terminal300, the searcher 103 searches for the multimedia file to betransmitted, from among the data stored in the storage unit 102.

[0061] The storage unit 102 is a large capacity recording medium, and adriver for driving the recording medium. A number of multimedia files401 as data to be delivered is stored in the storage unit 102. It isalso contemplated that desired information relating to the informationdelivery service such as user related data including billing informationis stored in the storage unit 102.

[0062] The use of a magnetic tape used in current broadcastingapparatuses is contemplated as the storage unit 102. If a hard disk, anIC memory, an optical disk, or a magnetooptical disk is used for thestorage unit 102, a random access is allowed, thereby enhancing theefficiency in the storage and retrieval of data.

[0063] The receiver terminal 300 includes a controller 301, a mainstorage unit 302, an auxiliary storage unit 303, a user interface 304,an operation panel 305, a display 306, an interface 308, and a mediadrive 307. All of the circuits of these units are interconnected to eachother via a data bus.

[0064] When power is on in this system, basic input/output startupinformation stored in a ROM as the auxiliary storage unit 303 allows thecircuits of these units to operate. Reading system control information405 stored in the main storage unit 302, the controller 301 executes aprocess, thereby enabling the receiver terminal 300 to perform a basicsystem operation.

[0065] The main storage unit 302, which is a relatively large capacitydevice such as a hard disk, stores numerous multimedia files 400transmitted from the server 100.

[0066] A program for multimedia file 401, which is an applicationprogram for performing a process for a multimedia file, is also stored.The controller 301 reads and starts the multimedia file program 401,thereby executing a download operation for downloading data onto the MDin response to the operation by the user.

[0067] The system control information 405 is also stored in the mainstorage unit 302.

[0068] As shown, the programs for multimedia file 401 include a searchprogram 402, a data identification program 403, and a reproductionprogram 404.

[0069] These programs are now briefly discussed. The search program 402searches and identifies a designated multimedia file, from amongmultimedia files stored in the main storage unit 302. The dataidentification program 403 searches and identifies a block (data) storedin a structure to be discussed later, from the searched multimedia file.The reproduction program 404 performs a reproduction process on the datain the block searched by the data identification program 403.

[0070] The meaning of the “reproduction process” is not limited to aprocess of merely reproducing and outputting the audio data in the formof an audio signal when the audio data is input. In this embodiment, forexample, a transfer process for writing the data onto the medium,including extracting data from the multimedia file and performing someprocess on the extracted data, is also included in the “reproductionprocess.”

[0071] The auxiliary storage unit 303 includes a memory such as a ROMand a RAM. For example, the ROM stores the above-mentioned basicinput/output startup information. The RAM stores data generated when thecontroller 301 performs the processes and process data resulting fromthe execution of the function of the circuit of each unit.

[0072] The user interface 304 interfaces with the operation panel 305and the display 306. For example, the user interface 304 transfers, tothe controller 301, operation information which is generated in responseto the operation of the operation panel 305 by the user, and transfers,to the display 306, display data input under the control of thecontroller 301. The display 306 thus presents a desired display.

[0073] The interface 308 interfaces with the server 100 via thecommunication network 200.

[0074] The media drive 307 records and reproduces the data onto themedia loaded into the media port 307 a as already discussed. In thisembodiment, the medium is an MD. The media drive 307 is thus constructedto be compatible with the MD in the recording and reproductionoperations. In this embodiment, among a plurality of pieces of data heldin the multimedia file, the media drive 307 records, on the MD, data ofa format recordable on the MD.

[0075] 1.3 Recording and Reproducing Device

[0076]FIG. 3 shows the recording and reproducing device 1 of the MiniDisk of the embodiment of the present invention.

[0077] The mangetooptical disk (Mini Disk) 90 storing voice data isrotated by a spindle motor 2. An optical head 3 directs a laser beam tothe magnetooptical disk 90 during recording and reproduction.

[0078] The optical head 3 outputs a laser high in level enough to heat arecording track to the Curie temperature during the recording, andoutputs a relatively low-level laser to detect data from a reflectedlight beam through the Kerr effect during the reproduction.

[0079] The optical head 3 includes a laser diode as a laser outputmeans, an optical system including a polarizing beam splitter and anobjective lens 3 a, and a detector for detecting a reflected light beam.The objective lens 3 a is supported by a two-axis mechanism 4 in such amanner that allows the objective lens 3 a to move in a radial directionof the disk and in a direction in which the objective lens 3 aapproaches or gets away from the disk.

[0080] A magnetic head 6 a is arranged diametrically opposite to theoptical head 3 across the disk 90. The magnetic head 6 a applies, on themagnetooptical disk 90, a magnetic field that is modulated with supplieddata.

[0081] The entire optical head 3 and the magnetic head 6 a are movablysupported by a threading mechanism 5 in the radial direction of the disk90.

[0082] The information, which is detected from the disk 90 by theoptical head 3 during the reproduction operation, is fed to an RFamplifier 7. The RF amplifier 7 extracts the reproduced RF signal, atracking error signal TE, a focus error signal FE, group information(absolute positional information recorded as a pre-group (wobblinggroup) in the magnetooptical disk 90) GFM, and so on from the suppliedinformation through arithmetic operations.

[0083] The extracted RF signal is supplied to an encoder/decoder 8. Thetracking error signal TE and the focus error signal FE are supplied to aservo circuit 9, and the group information GFM is supplied to an addressdecoder 10.

[0084] The servo circuit 9 generates various servo driving signalsaccording to the tracking error signal TE and the focus error signal FEsupplied, as well as according to a track jump command and an accesscommand from a system controller 11 including a computer, and theinformation of a detected rotation speed of the spindle motor 2 tocontrol the two-axis mechanism 4 and the threading mechanism 5 tocontrol both focusing and tracking, as well as to control the spindlemotor 2 at a fixed linear velocity (CLV: Control Linear Velocity).

[0085] The address decoder 10 extracts address information by decodingsupplied group information GFM. The address information is supplied tothe system controller 11 and used to control various parameters.

[0086] The reproduced RF signal is decoded with a processing such as EFM(Eight-Fourteen Demodulation Coding) demodulation or CIRC (CrossInterleave Reed Solomon Coding) decoding in the encoder/decoder 8. Atthis time, address and subcode data are also extracted and supplied tothe system controller 11.

[0087] Voice data (sector data) decoded with the processing such as EFMdemodulation and the CIRC in the encoder/decoder 8 is written in abuffer memory 13 by a memory controller 12. The speed of the opticalhead 3 to read data from the disk 90 and transfer the reproduced data tothe buffer memory 13 is 1.41 Mbit/s. Typically, the read and transferoperation are performed intermittently.

[0088] The data written on the buffer memory 13 is read at a timing sothat the reproduced data is transferred at 0.3 Mbit/s and supplied to anencoder/decoder 14. The data is subjected to the signal processing suchas a decoding processing for the compressed audio data, becoming 44.1kHz sampling and 16-bit quantized digital audio signals.

[0089] The digital audio signal is converted into an analog signalthrough a digital-to-analog converter 15, and is then subjected to alevel adjustment and an impedance adjustment in an output processor 16,and is output to an external apparatus as an analog audio output Aoutfrom a line output terminal 17. The audio signal is output as aheadphone output HPout at a headphone output terminal 27 to be fed to aheadphone connected thereto.

[0090] The digital audio signal decoded in the encoder/decoder 14 is fedto a digital interface 22 so that a digital audio signal Dout is outputat a digital output terminal 21 to be fed to an external apparatus. Forexample, the digital audio signal Dout is transmitted to the externalapparatus through a optical-fiber cable.

[0091] When a recording operation is performed on the megnetoopitcaldisk 90, a recording signal supplied through a line input terminal 18(an analog audio signal Ain) is converted into digital data through ananalog-to-digital converter 19, and is thereafter fed to theencoder/decoder 14. The digital recording signal is subjected to a voicecompression and encoding process.

[0092] When an external apparatus feeds a digital audio signal Din to adigital audio terminal 20, the digital interface 22 extracts a controlcode, etc., while the audio data thereof is fed to the encoder/decoder14 to be subjected to the audio compression and encoding process.

[0093] A microphone input terminal, although not shown, is arranged touse a microphone input as a recording signal.

[0094] The recording data compressed by the encoder/decoder 14 is thenwritten and stored onto the buffer memory 13 by the encoder/decoder 14.The recording data is then read every predetermined data unit and issent to the encoder/decoder 8. The recording data is encoded through theCIRC encoding and the EFM modulation by the encoder/decoder 8, and isthen fed to a magnetic head drive circuit 6.

[0095] The magnetic head drive circuit 6 supplies a magnetic head drivesignal to the magnetic head 6 a in response to the encoded recordingdata. Specifically, the magnetic head 6 a applies a magnetic field of Nor S to the magnetooptical disk 90. The system controller 11 then feedsa control signal to output a laser beam at a recording level to theoptical head 3.

[0096] An operation panel 23, used by the user for operation, isprovided with a diversity of operation keys and dials as controls. Thecontrols include those relating to recording and reproductionoperations, such as reproduction, recording, pause, stop, FF (fastforward), REW (rewinding), and AMS (automatic music sensing), thoserelating to a play mode, such as normal reproduction, programreproduction, and shuffle reproduction, those relating to a display modeoperation for switching a display state on a display 24, those relatingto a program editing operation, such as a track (program) splitting, atrack linking, a track erasing, a track name inputting, and a disk nameinputting, those relating operations such as the recording, andreproduction of the AUX data, and the operation mode as will bediscussed later.

[0097] The operation information in response to the operation of thekeys and dial is fed to the system controller 11, and the systemcontroller 11 performs control in accordance with the operationinformation.

[0098] The display operation of the display 24 is controlled by thesystem controller 11.

[0099] To cause the display 24 to execute the display operation, thesystem controller 11 transmits data to be displayed to a display driverwithin the display 24. In response to the supplied data, the displaydriver drives the display such as a liquid-crystal panel, therebypresenting desired numerals, characters and symbols.

[0100] The display 24 presents the operational status of the disk nowrecording or replaying, a track number, a recording time/reproductiontime, and an editing status on the screen thereof.

[0101] The disk 90 stores text information (such as a track name)managed in association with programs as the main data thereof. Thedisplay 24 displays characters when the text information is input or thetext information is read from the disk 90.

[0102] The disk 90 also stores the auxiliary data (the AUX data) whichis a data file separate from the data such as the musical composition asa program. The data file as the AUX data is a text and a still picture.The text and the still picture may also be presented on the display 24.

[0103] Presenting the text information and the still picture informationas the AUX data requires a relatively large screen, and a full-dotdisplay or a CRT (Cathode-Ray Tube) display is appropriate. For thisreason, the AUX data may be output to an external monitor through aninterface 25.

[0104] Although the user can record the AUX data file onto the disk 90,an image scanner, a personal computer or a keyboard may be used as aninput device. The AUX data file from such an input device may be inputthrough the interface 25.

[0105] The system controller 11 is a microcomputer composed of a CPU(Central Processor Unit), a program ROM, a working RAM, and interfaces,and controls the above-referenced various control.

[0106] To record and replay the data on the disk 90, managementinformation recorded in the disk 90, i.e., P-TOC (Premastered TOC),U-TOC (user TOC) must be read. In response to the managementinformation, the system controller 11 determines the address of an areaon which a recording is performed, and the address of an area from whicha reproduction is performed.

[0107] The management information is held in the buffer memory 13.

[0108] The system controller 11 reads the management information byperforming the reproduction operation along the innermost circle of thedisk on which the management information is recorded, when the disk 90is loaded. The system controller 11 stores the management information inthe buffer memory 13 so that the management information is referencedwhen the recording, reproduction and editing operations are performed onthe disk 90.

[0109] The U-TOC is re-written in accordance with the recording of and avariety of process on the program data. At each of the recording andediting operations, the system controller 11 updates the U-TOCinformation stored in the buffer memory 13, and rewrites the U-TOC areaof the disk 90 at a predetermined timing in response to the updating.

[0110] The disk 90 stores the AUX data file separate from the programs.The disk 90 has AUX-TOC formed for the management of the AUX data file.

[0111] When reading the U-TOC, the system controller 11 also reads theAUX-TOC, stores the AUX-TOC onto the buffer memory 13 so that the AUXdata management state is referenced, as necessary.

[0112] The system controller 11 reads, as necessary, the AUX data fileat a predetermined timing (or at the time of reading the AUX-TOC), andstores the AUX data file onto the buffer memory 13. The systemcontroller 11 causes the display 24 or the external apparatus via theinterface 25 to present the text or the image on screen at the outputtiming managed by the AUX-TOC.

[0113] Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, a sector and a cluster, which aredata units defined in the MD formats are discussed.

[0114] As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, clusters CL are consecutivelyarranged as a recording track in the Mini Disk system. One cluster is aminimum unit during the recording. One cluster corresponds to two tothree circular tracks.

[0115] One cluster CL includes a linking area of four sectors ofSFC-SFF, and a main data area including 32 sectors of S00-S1F.

[0116] One sector is a data unit composed of 2352 bytes.

[0117] Out of subdata areas of the four sectors, the sector SFF isreferred to as a subdata sector, and is used to record information assubdata. The three sectors SFC-SFE are not used to record data.

[0118] The TOC data, the audio data, the AUX data, etc. are recorded inthe main data area.

[0119] The address is recorded every sector.

[0120] The sector is further divided into smaller units called soundgroups. Two sectors are divided into 11 sound groups.

[0121] As shown, the two consecutive sectors of an even sector such asS00 and an odd sector such as S01 include sound groups SG00-SG0A. Onesound group is composed of 424 bytes, and corresponds to the amount ofsound data as long as 11.61 ms.

[0122] Data, divided between an L channel and an R channel, is recordedin a single sound group SG. For example, the sound group SG00 iscomposed of L-channel data L0 and R-channel data R0, and the sound groupSG01 is composed of L-channel data L1 and R-channel data R1.

[0123] 212 bytes as a data area for the L channel or the R channel arereferred to as a sound frame.

[0124] Referring to FIG. 5, the address form in the Mini Disk format isnow discussed.

[0125] The address of each sector is expressed by a cluster address anda sector address. As shown in the upper portion of FIG. 5, the clusteraddress is 16 bit number (=2 bytes), and the sector address is an 8 bitnumber (=1 byte).

[0126] The addresses of these three bytes are recorded at the head ofeach sector.

[0127] The address of the sound group in the sector is expressed byadding a 4 bit sound group address in succession to the sector address.In the management of the U-TOC, the addition of the sound group addressallows a reproduction position to be set according to the unit of soundgroup.

[0128] In the U-TOC and the AUX-TOC, short-form addresses are used toexpress the cluster address, the sector address, and the sound groupaddress in three bytes as shown in the lower portion of FIG. 5.

[0129] One cluster includes 36 sectors, and the sector address isexpressed in six bits. The upper two bits of the sector address can thusbe omitted. Since the cluster is expressed in 14 bits to the outermostcircle of the disk, the upper two bits of the cluster address can beomitted.

[0130] The addresses designating the sound group are thus expressed inthe three bytes by omitting the upper two bits of each of the sectoraddress and the cluster address.

[0131] In the U-TOC and the AUX-TOC, the address managing a reproductionposition and a reproduction timing is expressed in a short form. Theaddress is an absolute address. Alternatively, the use of an offsetaddress is contemplated. The offset address is a relative addressindicating a position within a program such as a musical compositionwith an address zero position set to be at the start position of theprogram. Referring to FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C, the offset address isdiscussed.

[0132] Referring to FIG. 7, the recording of a program such as a musicalcomposition starts at the 50th cluster on the disk (cluster 32h inhexadecimal expression; any number ending with h is a hexadecimal numberthroughout this specification).

[0133] For example, the addresses at the head of a first program(cluster 32h, sector 00h, and sound group 0h) are“0000000000110010000000000000”, i.e., (0032h, 00h, 0h) as shown in theupper portion of FIG. 6A. In a short form thereof, the addresses are“000000001100100000000000” (i.e., 00h, C8h, 00h) as shown in the lowerportion of FIG. 6A.

[0134] With a starting point set at this start address, the address ofthe cluster 0032h, the sector 04h, and the sound group 0h as onelocation within the position of the first program is expressed in “00h,Ch8, 40h” in a short-form absolute address as shown in FIG. 6B. On theother hand, in the offset address, the cluster 0000h, the sector 04h,and the sound group Oh are expressed using a difference to the startaddress as a starting point. The offset address is thus expressed in“00h, 00h, 40h.”

[0135] With a starting point set at the start address in FIG. 6A, theaddress of the cluster 0032h, the sector 13h, and the sound group 9h asone location within the position of the first program is expressed in“00h, Ch9, 39h” in a short-form absolute address as shown in FIG. 6C. Onthe other hand, the offset address is thus expressed in “00h, 01h, 39h.”

[0136] In this way, a location within the program is designated by oneof the absolute address and the offset address.

[0137] The area structure of the disk 90 (MD) of this embodiment isdiscussed, referring to FIG. 7.

[0138]FIG. 7(a) shows areas from the innermost circle to the outermostcircle in the disk 90.

[0139] The disk 90 as an magnetooptical disk includes a pit area wherereproduction only data is formed on the innermost ring side of the diskthrough an emboss pit method. The P-TOC is recorded there.

[0140] A magnetooptical area, arranged outside the pit area, includesgrooves serving as a guide groove for a recording track and enablesrecording and reproduction.

[0141] Cluster 0 through cluster 49 on the inner most ring of themagnetooptical area serve as a management area. The program area in themagnetootpical area actually recording programs such as actual musicalcompositions ranges from cluster 50 to cluster 2251. A ring surroundingthe program area is a lead-out area.

[0142]FIG. 7(b) shows the management area in detail. FIG. 7(b) shows thesectors in a horizontal direction and the clusters in a verticaldirection.

[0143] Clusters 0 and 1 in the management area serve as a buffer area tothe pit area. A cluster 2 is a power calibration area PCA, and is usedto adjust the output power of a laser light beam.

[0144] Clusters 3, 4, and 5 record the U-TOC. The content of the U-TOCwill be discussed later. Each sector in one cluster defines a dataformat and records predetermined management information. The clusterhaving such a sector becoming the U-TOC data is repeatedly stored threetimes, i.e., on the clusters 3, 4, and 5.

[0145] Clusters 6, 7, and 8 record the AUX-TOC. The content of theAUX-TOC will be discussed later. Each sector in one cluster defines adata format and records predetermined management information. Thecluster having such a sector becoming the AUX-TOC data is repeatedlystored three times, i.e., on the clusters 6, 7, and 8.

[0146] The area ranging from the cluster 9 to the cluster 46 record theAUX data. The data file as the AUX data is organized according thesector unit. Organized here may be a picture file sector as a stillpicture file to be discussed later, a text file sector as a textinformation file, a karaoke text file sector as a text information filesynchronized with the program.

[0147] The area recording the data file as the AUX data and the AUX datafile within the AUX data area is managed by the AUX-TOC.

[0148] The recording capacity for the data file in the AUX data area is2.8 Mbytes when the error correction mode 2 is employed.

[0149] For example, a second AUX data area may be created in a latterhalf of a program area or an area external to the outermost ring of theprogram area (for example, in the lead-out area) to increase therecording capacity for the data file.

[0150] Clusters 47, 48, and 49 serve as buffer areas to the programarea.

[0151] The program area on the 50th cluster (=32h) and succeedingclusters records voice data of at least one musical composition in acompression method called ATRAC (Adaptive Transform Acoustic Coding).

[0152] The area recording the program is managed by the U-TOC.

[0153] In each cluster in the program area, a sector FFh may be used forsubdata for recording information of any type.

[0154] The Mini Disk system finds applications in a reproduction onlydisk in which a program as data for reproduction only is recorded in apit method. The entire reproduction only disk serves as a pit area. Therecorded programs are managed by the P-TOC in almost the same way as bythe U-TOC to be discussed later, and no U-TOC is formed.

[0155] When the reproduction only data file is recorded as the AUX data,the AUX-TOC for managing it is also recorded.

[0156] 2 Multimedia File

[0157] 2.1 Basic Construction

[0158] The data structure of the multimedia file exchanged between theserver 100 and the receiver terminal 300 in the delivery system is nowdiscussed.

[0159] The multimedia file in this embodiment is formed according to theunit of block holding data. One block has a structure in which aplurality of blocks is stored in a hierarchical manner.

[0160] The structure of one block is discussed referring to FIG. 8.

[0161] As shown, one block includes first a header area AO, followed bya data area A4.

[0162] The header area A0 includes, from the head thereof, a block namearea A1, a number of child blocks area A2, and a data length area A3 inthat order. Within the one block, each delimiting code A10 having apredetermined length (two bytes, for example), is inserted at a breakpoint between the areas. As shown, the data area A4 ends with thedelimiting code 10.

[0163] The block name area A1 stores a block name identifying thecontent of the data stored in the current block. The block name isexpressed using ASCII codes of 20h to 7Eh (a number ending with h is ahexadecimal number).

[0164] The number of child blocks area A2 stores a number indicating thenumber of child blocks stored in the data area A4 of the current blockunder a hierarchical structure, using decimal ASCII strings (30h-39h).

[0165] The structure of the multimedia file of this embodiment allows agrandchild block to be stored in a child block. The number of childblocks merely indicates the count of child blocks. For example, when nochild blocks are present with data held in the current block data area,the number of child blocks is zero. If the number of child blocks isten, ten child blocks are stored therewithin.

[0166] The data length area A3 indicates the data size of the data areaA4 of the current block. The byte number of the data area A4 isindicated by a decimal ASCII code string (30h-39h). The data sizeindicated here excludes the size of the delimiting code A10 thatattaches to the end of the data area A4.

[0167] The data is contained in the data area A4. The block unit itselfis stored in a hierarchical structure.

[0168] The data stored in the data area A4 is any byte strings havingthe byte number designated by the data length. Binary data can thus bestored. An application software is free to set what type of format isused for the data stored. The multimedia file of this embodiment allowsbinary data to be directly embedded into the file description structure.For example, unlike the HTML and XML, the binary data is not handled asthe external reference file of a description file. In accordance withthis embodiment, the data area A4 thus holds the compressed audio datacompatible with the MD format as discussed with reference to FIG. 3through FIG. 7, the image file as the AUX data, and the text data.

[0169] As for the multimedia file in the embodiment, a child block maybe stored in one parent block in the above-referenced block structure,as will be discussed next.

[0170]FIG. 9 shows one example of the multimedia file. As shown, thedelimiting code A10 is not shown for simplicity of explanation.

[0171] The multimedia file is generally composed of a block 1. The block1 includes a header area A0-1, and a data area A4-1. The block name areaA1-1 of the header area A0-1 stores “block 1” as the block name thereof.The number of child blocks area A2-1 stores “2” as the number of childblocks stored in the data area A4-1 as will be discussed later. The datalength area A3-1 indicates the actual data size of the data area A4-1.

[0172] In this case, as shown, the data area A4-1 of the block 1 holdstwo child blocks, namely, block 2 and block 3.

[0173] In this embodiment, the data area A4 of one block can contain atleast one child block. As a rule, the block having a child block in thedata area A4 thereof is prohibited from directly describing data foritself in the data area A4. In other words, the data area A4 having thechild block is composed of the child block only.

[0174] Here, of the child blocks 2 and 3 stored in the data area A4-1 ofthe block 1, the block 2 is first described. The block 3 is thendescribed. Specifically, the data sequence within the data area A4-1 isthe block 2 to the block 3.

[0175] The block 2 is composed of a header area A0-2 and a data areaA4-2 in succession thereto. The block name area A1 of the header areaA0-2 stores “block 2” as the block name thereof. The data area A4-2 ofthe block 2 holds the data of the block 2 itself rather than storing achild block. The number of child blocks area A2-2 thus holds “0”,indicating that no child block is held. The data length area A3-2indicates the actual data size of the data area A4-2. As alreadydiscussed, the data area A4-2 stores the data of the block 2 itself.

[0176] The block 3 includes a header area A0-3 and a data area A4-3. Theblock name area A1-3 of the header area A0-3 holds “block 3”, as theblock name thereof. Since the data area A4-3 of the block 3 holds asingle child block, the number of child blocks area A2-3 states “1”. Thedata length area A3-3 indicates the actual size of the data area A4-3.The data area A4-3 holds a block 4 as the data of block unit.

[0177] The block 4 is composed of a header area A4-0 and a data areaA4-4. The block name area A1-4 of the header area A0-4 holds “block 4”as the block name thereof. Since the data area A4-4 of the block 4stores the data of its own rather than a child block, the number ofchild blocks area A2-4 holds “0”. A data length area A3-4 indicates theactual size of the data area A4-4. The data area A4-4 stores the data ofthe block 4 itself.

[0178] The multimedia file in FIG. 9, if viewed in terms of blocks, isshown in FIG. 10.

[0179] Specifically, the block 1 is a root block. The block 2 and theblock 3 are placed under the block 1 in the hierarchy. The block 4 isplaced under the block 3 in the hierarchy.

[0180] If the block 4 is viewed from the block 1, the block 4 is agrandchild block. In the format of the multimedia file of thisembodiment, the blocks are further hierarchically arranged belowgrandchildren. Any block forming the multimedia file can have childblocks thereunder. As a rule, only one root block is permitted in thehierarchy.

[0181] As another example, the following multimedia file is nowconsidered. <parent> <child 1>abc</child 1> <child 2>def</child 2></parent>

[0182] The dump image of the multimedia file is shown in FIG. 11. Whenthe data to be stored in the data area is a text in the multimedia fileof this embodiment, all data is expressed in text data.

[0183] The structure of such a multimedia file has the followingadvantages.

[0184] First, in accordance with the present invention, the body of thedata, even if it is binary, is embedded in the multimedia file. Unlikethe HTML and XML, the body of the data is not handled as an externalreference file. The server, which delivers a number of pieces of audiodata in a single multimedia file, can easily create and edit themultimedia file, and manage the created file. The work efficiency on theserver is thus increased.

[0185] The processing side, which processes the uploaded multimediafile, references the block name, the number of child blocks, the datalength to search for desired data. If the data length is referencedafter knowing the block name and the number of child blocks, thesearching is made jumping the data sequence according to the describeddata length.

[0186] To search for data in the HTML and XML, the tags written in adescription file need to read from the first of the file. It takes timeto obtain search results. In contrast, this embodiment permits searchresults to be quickly obtained.

[0187]2.2 Specific Structure of the Multimedia File

[0188] The multimedia file of this embodiment has the structure asdescribed. The specific structure of the multimedia file transmitted andreceived in the delivery system shown in FIG. 1 is discussed, referringto FIG. 12 and FIG. 13.

[0189] The multimedia file structure in this embodiment is shown in FIG.12. A file “Content” is placed as a root block. Hierarchically placedunder the file “Content” are “File Info”, “Audio”, “Image”, “Text”, and“Video”. The data sequence is arranged in the order of “File Info”,“Audio”, “Image”, “Text”, and “Video” in the data area of the “Content”block.

[0190] The “File Info” block holds information about a content file as amultimedia file and, for example, includes child blocks “Version”,“Charaset”, and “Author”.

[0191] The “Audio” block holds information about the audio datacontained in the multimedia file, and includes child blocks “Data” and“Info”.

[0192] The “Data” block has child blocks “Location” and “Body”. Arrangedhere is child block combinations of “Location” and “Body”, the number ofwhich is equal to the number of pieces of audio data to be held in themultimedia.

[0193] The “Location” block holds information indicating where the bodyof the audio data is held. The description “internal” here indicatesthat the audio data is embedded in the multimedia file while thedescription “external” indicates that the audio data is managed as anexternal reference file. Although the format of the multimedia of thisembodiment permits the data body to be embedded in the file, the databody can be set to be linkable as an external reference file.

[0194] The “Body” block holds the body of the audio data when the“Location” block states “internal”, and holds a URL as a linkdestination when the “Location” block states “external”.

[0195] The “Info” block under the “Audio” block includes “Format”,“Bitrate”, “Channel”, . . . , “SCMSStatus”, and “PID”.

[0196] Although the “Image”, “Text”, and “Video” blocks are shown here,the discussion of the structure thereof is skipped here.

[0197] In the above arrangement, the block having target data is foundby referencing the block name in the header area in each block stored inthe data area of the “Content” block. For example, the audio data issearched for by simply finding a block having the block name “Audio”stated in the block name area of the header. During the searching, the“Audio” block is quickly found by performing block jumping according tothe value of “Data Length” held in the data length area of the headerarea. To acquire desired data from the “Audio” block, a similarprocedure is followed.

[0198] The structure of the multimedia file shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 isfor illustrative purposes only, and may be appropriately modified. Forexample, the block names given to the blocks are not limited to thoseillustrated here, and may be changed depending on specifications ofactual applications, etc.

[0199] 3 Reproduction Process

[0200] The reproduction process of the data designated by the multimediafile performed in the receiver terminal 300 of this embodiment isdiscussed, referring to a flow diagram shown in FIG. 14.

[0201] The process shown in FIG. 14 is carried out by the controller 301in accordance with the program for multimedia file 401.

[0202] In step S101, the multimedia file and block holding data to bereproduced are designated in response to the operation performed on theoperation panel 305. The designation here is performed by the file namestated as the block name.

[0203] In step S102, the designated multimedia file is searched foramong a number of multimedia files held in the main storage unit 302 inaccordance with the search program 402 of the program for multimediafile 401. The block name of the root block of the multimedia file heldin the main storage unit 302 is referenced.

[0204] In step S103, it is determined whether the searching in step S102has been successful. When the searching of the multimedia file ofinterest has failed with No result in step S103, the process proceeds tostep S108 to perform a search error process. For example, the searcherror process causes the display 306 to present a statement notifying auser that the multimedia file of interest for searching is not stored inthe receiver terminal 300.

[0205] When the affirmative answer is obtained in step S103 with themultimedia file of interest successfully searched, the process proceedsto step S104.

[0206] In step S104, the block (data) designated in step S101 issearched in accordance with the execution program of the dataidentification program 403. The block having the data of interest forsearching is found by searching for the blocks within the searchedmultimedia file. A high-speed searching is performed by referencing thedescription in the header area.

[0207] It is then determined in step S105 whether the search result instep S104 has been successful. When it is determined that the searchresult has been unsuccessful, the process proceeds to step S108. In thiscase, the search error process causes the display 306 to present astatement notifying the user that the designated data is not present.

[0208] When it is determined in step S105 that the search result hasbeen successful, the process proceeds to step S106.

[0209] In step S106, the data in the searched block is reproduced andoutput in accordance with the execution program of the reproductionprogram 404. Here, the reproduction and output of the data here refer tothe extraction and acquisition of the data held in the data area of thesearched block.

[0210] In step S107, the data acquired in step S106 is transferred tothe media drive 307 in accordance with the execution program of thereproduction program 404, and is written on the MD loaded in the mediadrive 307. Optionally, the data may be temporarily stored in the RAM ofthe auxiliary storage unit 303, and is then transferred to the mediadrive 307 at a data transfer rate compatible with the media drive 307.

[0211] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

[0212] In this embodiment, the medium, on which the data extracted fromthe multimedia file is recorded, is the MD. The MD is one example. Themedium may be one of a diversity of data recording disks, a tape medium,and a removable medium having a memory element. The body of therecording and reproducing device 1 having a built-in flash memory isassembled in the receiver terminal 300, and the data is written on thememory in the recording and reproducing device 1.

[0213] The delivery system for delivering the musical composition (andthe image, and the data such as the text associated therewith) has beendescribed. The present invention finds applications in a delivery systemfor delivering other type of data, and a device constituting suchdelivery system. The present invention is applicable to a system whichdistributes multimedia information using package media such as a CD-ROMor a DVD. The structure of the multimedia information of the presentinvention may be adopted as a data file structure other than themultimedia content.

[0214] In accordance with the present invention, the multimediainformation is arranged according to the unit of block data includingthe header area and the data area holding the body of the data. Theformat of the data structure of the present invention allows themultimedia information to be embedded in the file structure. The presentinvention thus provides an information delivery system for deliveringthe multimedia information, an information processing apparatus forprocessing the multimedia information, and a recording medium forrecording the multimedia information.

[0215] In the arrangement of the present invention, the creation andediting of the information file are easy compared with the case in whichthe format such as the known HTML is used in the multimedia information.The processing of the desired data, such as searching, becomes an easyjob.

[0216] The information in the header area of the multimedia informationincludes at least the file name identification information (block name)and the data length identification information (data length). When thesearching is performed to reproduce the multimedia information, the datasequence of the multimedia information is searched for while the blockname stated in the header is being checked. Referencing the data lengthallows a jump to the next block data, thereby expediting the searching.

[0217] The structure of the multimedia information of the presentinvention allows the data area of one block to hold a child block. Theinformation of the header area includes the block name identificationinformation (block name), the number of child blocks information (numberof child blocks), and the data length identification information (datalength). The file as a single piece of the multimedia information of thepresent invention is described in a hierarchical structure. Thehierarchical structure is then managed by the content stated in theheader.

[0218] A plurality of pieces of data of one related topic is held in oneblock in a hierarchical structure. The management of the data in themultimedia file becomes easy. The creation and editing of the file arealso easy. Even multimedia information holding numerous pieces of datais quickly searched for, and the processing of the data becomes simple.

[0219] With the delimiting information having a predetermined lengthinserted between areas of the multimedia information, the identificationof each area during the searching becomes easy and precise.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for processing information,comprising: an information acquisition means for acquiring multimediainformation having a structure of block data including a header area anda data area holding data; a data extractor means for extracting desireddata from the multimedia information acquired by the informationacquisition means, through searching, based on the content described inthe header area of the multimedia information; and a reproducing meansfor reproducing the data extracted by the data extractor means.
 2. Anapparatus for processing information according to claim 1, wherein theheader area of one piece of block data has a structure in which blockname identification information describing a name identifying thecontent of at least current block data and data length identificationinformation indicating the data length of the current block data arearranged in a predetermined order, and wherein the data extractor meanssearches for data to be extracted, based on the block nameidentification information and the data length identificationinformation.
 3. An apparatus for processing information according toclaim 1, wherein the data area of one piece of block data stores atleast one piece of block data while the header area of one piece ofblock data has a structure in which block name identificationinformation describing a name identifying the content of at leastcurrent block data, child block data count identification informationindicating the number of pieces of child block data stored in the dataarea of the current block data, and data length identificationinformation indicating the data length are arranged in a predeterminedorder, and wherein the data extractor means searches for data to beextracted, based on the block name identification information, the childblock data count identification information, and the data lengthidentification information.
 4. An apparatus for processing informationaccording to claim 1, wherein one piece of block data has a structure inwhich delimitation identification information having a predeterminedlength indicating a delimitation of an area is inserted in a datasequence composed of an information area, forming the header area, andthe data area, and wherein the data extractor means identifies adelimitation position of the areas based on the delimitationidentification information when the data extractor means searches fordata to be extracted.
 5. A system for delivering information, comprisingan information delivery apparatus and an information receiver apparatus,wherein the information delivery apparatus comprises: a storage meansfor storing at least one piece of multimedia information having astructure of block data including a header area and a data area holdingdata; and a transmitter means for transmitting multimedia informationselected from at least one piece of multimedia information stored in thestorage means; and the information receiver apparatus comprises: areceiver means for receiving the multimedia information transmitted bythe information delivery apparatus; a data extractor means forextracting, through searching, desired data from the multimediainformation received by the receiver means, based on the contentdescribed in the header area of the multimedia information; and areproducing means for reproducing the data extracted by the dataextractor means.
 6. A method for processing multimedia information,comprising the steps of: acquiring, from outside, multimediainformation, having a structure of block data, including a header areaand a data area holding data; extracting, through searching, desireddata from the multimedia information acquired through the acquiringstep, based on the content described in the header area of themultimedia information; and reproducing the data extracted by the dataextracting step.
 7. A method for processing multimedia information,according to claim 6, wherein the header area of one piece of block datahas a structure in which block name identification informationdescribing a name identifying the content of at least current block dataand data length identification information indicating the data length ofthe current block data are arranged in a predetermined order, andwherein the data extracting step searches for data to be extracted,based on the block name identification information and the data lengthidentification information.
 8. A method for processing multimediainformation, according to claim 6, wherein the data area of one piece ofblock data stores at least one piece of block data while the header areaof one piece of block data has a structure in which block nameidentification information describing a name identifying the content ofat least current block data, child block data count identificationinformation indicating the number of pieces of child block data storedin the data area of the current block data, and data lengthidentification information indicating the data length are arranged in apredetermined order, and wherein the data extracting step searches fordata to be extracted, based on the block name identificationinformation, the child block data count identification information, andthe data length identification information.
 9. A method for processingmultimedia information, according to claim 6, wherein one piece of blockdata has a structure in which delimitation identification informationhaving a predetermined length indicating a delimitation of an area isinserted in a data sequence composed an information area, forming theheader area, and the data area, and wherein the data extracting stepidentifies a delimitation position of the areas based on thedelimitation identification information when the data extracting stepsearches for data to be extracted.
 10. A recording medium for recordingmultimedia information, having a structure of block data, including aheader area and a data area holding data.
 11. A recording mediumaccording to claim 10, wherein the header area of one piece of blockdata has a structure in which block name identification informationdescribing a name identifying the content of at least current block dataand data length identification information indicating the data length ofthe current block data are arranged in a predetermined order.
 12. Arecording medium according to claim 10, wherein the data area of onepiece of block data stores at least one piece of block data while theheader area of one piece of block data has a structure in which blockname identification information describing a name identifying thecontent of at least current block data, child block data countidentification information indicating the number of pieces of childblock data stored in the data area, and data length identificationinformation indicating the data length of the current block data arearranged in a predetermined order.
 13. A recording medium according toclaim 10, wherein one piece of block data has a structure in whichdelimitation identification information having a predetermined lengthindicating a delimitation of an area is inserted in a data sequencecomposed of an information area, forming the header area, and the dataarea.